It isn't as easy as it looks

By: Courtney Rochon

Updated: Sun 10:34 PM, Mar 01, 2009

By: Courtney Rochon

Courtney Rochon blogs about getting to know a teleprompter.

After President Barack Obama delivered his adress to a joint session of Congress, Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal delivered the Republican response. Governor Jindal has been gaining prominence among Republicans and many speculate he is being groomed to run for President in 2012 (although Jindal has not confirmed this).

There was a lot of negative criticism after Jindal's response Tuesday. Many said he delivered the response as if he were talking to a group of kids. When I watched the response, however, all I saw was someone unfamiliar and uncomfortable with using a teleprompter.

As easy as it may look (and once you get the hang of it, it is just that), it takes practice to get it right. When you read a teleprompter, you are essentially trying to make it sound as though the words are natural thoughts coming out of your head. But it's certainly hard to make something seem natural when you are reading every word of it. It takes practice!

While I will maintain my objectivity and not say how I feel about Governor Jindal as a politician, I do not think he deserves the flack he got after Tuesday's performance. If you've caught some of us at WTAP anchoring for the first time, I think we've all given Jindal a run for his money!

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